The USG announces an additional $360 million in humanitarian assistance for the Syria crisis. Up to 150,000 people remained displaced in Idlib Governorate as of June 11 following increased conflict that began in late March. Attacks on medical facilities in Syria persist, resulting in the deaths of more than 600 health care personnel since the start of the conflict.

On June 25, 2015, Secretary Kerry announced a pledge that increases the total amount of U.S. emergency relief and early recovery assistance to Nepal to $130 million. Building upon our support to date to Nepal after the April 25, 2015 earthquake, this announcement is only the beginning of our contribution and we, with the support of our Congress, will continue to work with Nepal to support its long-term earthquake recovery needs across multiple years.

The HRGP was established with the creation of the new DRG Center in February 2012, as “human rights” was elevated as a co-equal pillar alongside democracy and governance. The program assists with the development of human rights programs, including innovative projects that respond to urgent or unanticipated human rights needs of emerging opportunities as well as to encourage cooperation with local and regional organizations, and to enable Missions to respond to urgent human rights problems through stand-alone programs or by integrating human rights objectives into current programs and those under design, regardless of sector.

The Health and Education Office of the USAID/Nicaragua Mission has been working with the LGBT community to advocate for reform in the health sector; developing studies on stigma, discrimination, HIV/AIDS prevention; and improving technical competencies related to education methodologies and behavior change interventions, among others. With HRGP’s support the mission was able to extend capacity strengthening assistance and training on democratic and human rights advocacy to thirty three non-governmental organizations.

“Being LGBT in Asia: A Participatory Analysis of the Legal and Social Environment for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Persons and Civil Society” is a joint initiative of USAID and United Nations Development Program (UNDP). In the past two years “Being LGBT in Asia” convened national LGBT dialogues to discuss lived experiences of LGBT persons in eight countries: Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Nepal, Mongolia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

Since October 2013, USAID has partnered with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to implement the Support to Strengthen Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Viet Nam project by engaging CSOs working on LGBT issues, the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA). The project aims to enhance the capacity of CSOs throughout the country, while at the same time reducing stigma and discrimination against LGBT people through awareness raising, psychosocial and legal support and improving the legal environment for them in Vietnam.

EVD transmission increases in Guinea and Sierra Leone, particularly in border areas. The Government of Guinea (GoG) prepares to open transit center in the EVD-affected sub-prefecture of Kamsar, located in Boké Prefecture. The Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) announces 21-day Operation Northern Push to eradicate EVD in the country’s northern districts through increased community engagement and curfew restrictions.

In coordination with the Government of Liberia (GoL), the USG Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) supports partners to decommission closed EVD treatment units (ETUs). The Government of Guinea (GoG) extends the nation-wide health emergency through June 30. The EVD outbreak contributes to an earlier-than-normal start to the lean season and weakened household purchasing power in some EVD-affected areas.